More journal page creations from the online course

with Katie Kendrik - "Grit and Grace"

There are numerous assignments each week

that for now I am completing the ones that grab me 

and I have time for - this may be a year long project! 

I started another new journal 

(I have SO many on the go right now!)

This one is an old book that I am collaging and painting on

..... trying for a looser style 

and letting out whatever shows up.

I really enjoyed this exercise on a paper bag.

Grit and Grace

I am taking an online course 

called Grit and Grace with Katie Kendrik. 

I love Katie's paintings.

I created this journal page by sticking down collage paper

and did my best to let it direct me to this final stage.  

Journal page #2 was the same process

although all of my collage bits seemed to get covered with paint. 

Looseness is not in my comfort zone, 

I need to work on it. 

Decided to do a page a bit more inside my comfort zone,

although I did use some techniques shown in the course. 

I will continue to push myself outside my comfort zone

.....  maybe tomorrow.

Fixed!

This is an accordion book I made about a year ago.

I like the inside view..... I just never liked the cover.

Here you can see the old cover - the bird looking too dark and frightening. 

And so I fixed it ..... finally.

Now the whole book makes me happy. 

I have also been continuing on with my drawing/painting work

for the Sketchbookery online course I am taking with Mary Ann Moss. 

Most people are on the beginning of the 4th and final week

but I am still working on week 1 and slowly moving into week 2.

I have access to it for a whole year, and it may just take me that long to get through it!

SELF

As I reflected on 2014, I decided it was a far too busy year for me, 

so therefore I am trying to make some changes so as not to have it repeated.  

2015 will be busy - I am always busy - I just don't want too busy.

I don't usually choose a word to focus on for the year, 

but for now I have chosen the word SELF.

I hope that it will help me focus on what I do want to do,

and where I am not willing to put my energy. 

I may only use SELF for a month or two, or then again I could use it for many years.

One of the things I decided that I did want to do  was to spend some time drawing. 

It was about 8 - 9 years ago that I decided that I wanted to learn to draw, 

and began spending time drawing.

To continue on with this goal,

I am taking an online course -  Sketchbookery by Mary Ann Moss

I am trying to learn to draw everyday items from around my house - and then add a bit of paint

Last year I was very focused on final outcome of creations

This year I hope there are some creations that are final outcome focused,

 but my plan is to spend more time practicing, learning and not worrying about the final product. 

So here are some of the drawings/paintings I have made this week. 

I am drawing in pen (no erasing)

and began on scrap pieces of paper - so it doesn't matter if they turn out or not. 

I want to learn to draw from real things rather than from images.

So I started with my tiny tea pot.

After I drew my wonky jug on scrap paper, I added some watercolours

but that paper doesn't hold up too well, so tried again on heavier paper.

I was just going to draw my little pine needle basket - but the paints were right there 

so they got added to the mix.

And after I painted these, they were delicious to eat!

I found the perspective on this little succulent difficult,

and I know I will have to try it again another day.

I drew these tulips on scrap paper early in the week, when they were fresh.
The painted tulip was from yesterday when it was ready to drop its petals. 

I am challenging myself to draw (and paint if I want) for a minimum of 15 minutes each day. 

Some days it may not happen - and that is okay. 

The Thread That Weaves

I feel very fortunate to have been involved with an online workshop with Roxanne called

"The Thread that Weaves".

Roxanne has been giving us wonderful inspiration, instruction and support in the development of a art book.  I just finished mine, and it is shown above when it is closed and standing up. 

 

Here it is open

It is a triptych style book.  So has three panals. 

 My first one is an image inside an old cabin.  The second one is of a bird amongst the first snowfall,

and the third one shows the transition from fall to winter. 

 

We also created a little book that we sewed into the bigger book.

For me this book tells the story of transitions.  Transitions from fall to winter, transitions of places that contain many stories from years gone by, and the transitions that I am going through to become the person that I am supposed to become.  It all takes time, some of them good, and some of them hard, but all of them there to make us each the individual we are to become.  

This is the first spread in the little book.

The second spread

The third spread

And here is the back or the outside of the whole book showing a bit more of the threads that I wove through this project. 

 

I really enjoyed this project, and the wonderful time spent with Roxanne and the others that joined in creating  with "The Thread that Weaves"